As a child of the '80s, I've often wondered what it must have been like to go to a dealership and build your own car. Rally packages and Boss stripes, Road Runners with the signature horn and giant birds of prey stretched across the hoods of bold and beautiful automobiles. Lots of people say some were better than others, but my point is that you could really personalize your ride in the '60s and '70s. Multiple paint color and interior combinations could be had and there was usually a myriad of engines and transmissions available to suit all kinds of buyers. These days buying a new car is basically option A or option B with C or D engine and E or F transmission. It doesn't sound very personal or unique, but there are alternatives to this.
Saleen and Roush have brought some exciting vehicles to the table, but not everyone can afford a new car, let alone a highly modified one. This is where the aftermarket comes in. Personalization can be had at the dial of a phone number or the click of a mouse. To your door arrive parts that can transform your ride from commuter to crazy with the turn of a wrench. And if working on a car is not your gig, then you can always buy someone else's finished product.
We've featured many of Bruce Gould's creations over the years and he keeps turning them out. When we came upon these two cars at the Fun Ford Weekend in Norwalk, they were too good to pass up. Gould and Son resurrects derelict ponies and by the time they're done with them, they are a unique breed. Whether it is a moneymaker or just a way to express artistic talent, these remarkable Mustangs stand out from the herd and garner not only our attention, but many others as well.
The Tangerine Dream
Bill Russell of Clarksville, Ohio, had been looking to buy a Mustang for some time, and one look at this 1995 Gould machine was all the encouragement he needed to empty his bank account.The Mustang is a 1995 model, but it was constructed from three different cars. A 1997 Cobra donated its 4-valve powerplant while a GT and a V6 car were combined to provide a firm foundation. Aftermarket components in the forms of an SR 351 wing and a Cobra front bumper cover were added as well as a Cobra R hood.
Gould and Son then called upon Jesse Stone at KLI in Cincinnati for the vivid paint hues. The paint scheme was filled with Orange, Pearl White, Calypso Green and Deep Purple. The Mustang was dropped by way of BBK progressive rate springs and handling was further improved through the use of that company's upper and lower control arms. The Cobra brakes were pirated from the same car that gave up its engine and the 8.8 axle was upgraded with a set of 4.10 gears. An aluminum driveshaft is encased by a Lakewood loop and is connected to a T-45 transmission, which is shifted with a B&M Ripper. A Ford Racing clutch makes sure that all of the 4-cammer's power is transmitted to the ground.
With a wild-looking car like this, a stock exhaust would not do and rather than go with the traditional Mustang pipes, (i.e., Flowmasters), Gould bolted up a complete 2.5-inch system from Hooker. The interior was left in relatively stock V6 form until Russell took ownership. He installed the white-faced gauges, Auto Meter tachometer and racing pedals as well as the 150-horsepower Nitrous Oxide Systems kit.
As far as racing is concerned, Bill didn't really do much before he bought the Mustang. Since owning the pony, he has gone 13.10 at 107 mph on the motor and 12.22 at 120 on the squeeze. All of this is accomplished on Nitto street radial tires. Bill plans to spring for some slicks shortly and head back to the track, but before he goes all out for drag racing, he plans to do a little road racing to see which he likes better. Bill has an '87 LX that he is going to sell, which will free up some funds for further modifications.
Royal Blue, and Fast, Too
Scott Huddleson, a 24-year-old OSP coordinator from Waynesville, Ohio, bought his 1992 Mustang GT from a used car dealer. Bone stock and having low mileage, the horse was in really good shape, but after a while, Scott was ready for something a little different. Most of his friends owned Mustangs and they recommended Gould and Son. As Scott liked to race his horse, he needed to have a few more oats in the feedbag. Soon Scott's Mustang was thumping away with a new motor that sported an X-303 camshaft, ported and polished Dart II cylinder heads and an Extrude Honed Cobra intake manifold. Stuffing this air pump is a Paxton VR4 supercharger that makes 15 lbs. of boost.
To make the most of this horsepower machine, Scott rebuilt the suspension with more drag-oriented parts. Lakewood shocks and struts aid in weight transfer while Southside Machine upper and lower control arms keep a handle on the 3.73-geared rear axle. Five-lug Moser axles are twisted by an aluminum driveshaft which is connected to a Performance Automatic C-4 transmission. Scott actually ran the stock T-5 for a while followed by replacement T-5s and a Tremec, but he had a lot of trouble with the clutches and the clutch cables. The automatic fixed all of that and the Mustang picked up in ET running a best of 11.75 at 121. Obviously with a trap speed like that, Scott should be running low 11s. However, his Mickey Thompson ET Streets have had about all they can take.
Over the course of the next few months, Scott frequented the Gould and Son establishment. His car needed a little visual stimulation and one of Gould's flamboyant paint schemes could do the trick. Before Gould threw some new colors on, Scott picked up a few choice components to break up the factory bodylines. At the front of the car, the bumper cover was treated to a Cobra grille insert in addition to a Harwood 2.5-inch cowl induction hood. A Saleen rear wing catches some wind and a GT-40 rear bumper cover gives Scott's Mustang a different look.
Choosing from a bunch of paint schemes, Scott opted for the one you see here. The factory Royal Blue has been enhanced with Raspberry, Silver and White graphics, which in the Gould tradition, commands your attention.
Future plans for this potent performer includes a stroker kit, more boost and 10.00 ETs. Huddleson's 1992 GT has come a long way from its humble beginnings and yet its journey has just begun.
In The End
When it comes down to buying a car, there are alternatives to the factory models. As great as they are, they are created to appeal to a more diverse demographic and therefore are slightly more subtle in design than some of us would care for.
With the help of the aftermarket and creative people like Bruce Gould, there are many roads that lead to a unique automobile designed just for you.